EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Grass Tree of Creswick

Austral Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea australis), Family Asphodelaceae, Order Asparagales
Creswick Regional Park, Victoria, Australia

Explanation:  Wonderfully -- and utterly fallaciously -- named, is this resident of Creswick Regional Park in Victoria, southeast Australia.  This is an austral grass tree.  Yes, it is indeed austral (of the southern hemisphere).  But it is really not a "true" grass, nor a "true" tree.  Ha.

Grass trees are endemic to Australia and consist of some 30 or so species.  They are so-named because, well, they can appear as grass with a main "trunk" somewhat like that of a tree.  Some can reach 5 meters (16 feet) in height, and can live centuries.  This species, the austral grass tree, can reach 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) tall.

The main stem bears the flowering stalk, shown in the main photo above, and others below here.  The flowers produce sweet nectar and attract a variety of pollinating insects including butterflies.  

The flowers are borne in clusters on the spiky head of the woody stem.  

One source suggests that flowers on the warmer and sunnier northern side open first, so that can be used to signal compass directions.   Remember that, next time you are wandering the Australian woodlands and lose your way!